There are not much books available that talk about the second pregnancy, but I chanced upon one at Books For Less (see photo at the right) and I learned plenty of things in it that I found to be true in my case. I decided to write about it for the sake of those parents out there who are ready (or maybe not) for a second one. Here is my list of lessons and experiences during my second pregnancy:1. Belly was bigger the second time around. The muscles in my tummy area didn't forget the feeling of being stretched so stretched it did. By my third trimester, I found people staring at me, telling me how big and low my tummy was and that I will be birthing soon. Tell me ssomething I don't know, please!
2. Movements from the baby were more noticeable. Or maybe my little boy was more active than Trixie, I really don't know. But I guess I was more sensitive the second time, but there was a time during the last month when I couldn't differentiate Braxton Hicks from the real one.
3. It was more exhausting the second time around. That's true for me being a full-time mom. If during the first one I refrained from driving and had more time to rest and relax, it was the total opposite for the second one. I drove Trix to and from school, went grocery shopping, and still cooked and baked for the family. The first trimester was also more difficult for me- terrible morning sickness.
4. I was less enthusiastic to go to my OB for regular check-up every month. I also lost track of the pregnancy period I was in, so when friends would ask me, I just sort of guessed haha.
5. I felt that I was less cared for by my husband and family members. Well, probably because I was in a non-risky pregnancy, but just the same, if during the first one baby movements were anticipated, there was less (or none!) excitement during the second one.
6. I was more worried about how my eldest would accept the baby than how my pregnancy was going (or even how I would take care of a second baby). I even got very emotional during the first trimester at the thought of my not being able to put Trixie on my lap and stopping to
nurse her (but she just stopped nursing all by herself during my second month of pregnancy, so the worrying was useless after all). Good thing I was able to find books that somehow helped prepare Trixie for my pregnancy and the new baby (got them at Booksale and Books for Less, respectively)- "I'm a Big Sister" by Joanna Cole (see left photo) and "What to Expect When Mommy's Having a Baby" by Heidi Murkoff. But even now that I've given birth, I still worry about how Trixie would handle having a baby brother. But that's another story (or blog entry...). 7. There was pressure to have a baby boy the second time around because my first one was a girl. Even people I don't know very well would say they hope the second one would turn out to be a boy. Of course as a mom, my utmost concern was to have a healthy baby, but honestly, having a boy would be nice too. I thank God our prayers were answered. (Side comment: Brandon was specially happy when we found out we were having a boy. We had the ultrasound monitor all to himself; I was not able to see the baby at all!)
That's all I remember to be unique during my second pregnancy. I hope this would be helpful to moms out there who are expecting a second baby or hoping for a new one. If you'd ask me if I want to get pregnant again, my answer is a quick NO. I hope not, really. :)
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